Salvation Army Further Expands Already Massive Response To Laurel County, Kentucky

Middlesboro, KY (March 6, 2012) – The Salvation Army has further expanded its already massive response to the far-reaching devastation from last week’s storms—formalizing the Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) work in Laurel County, Kentucky.

Laurel is the latest county in eastern Kentucky in need The Salvation Army EDS assistance as residents struggle to regain some semblance of the normal life prior to the life-changing storm cells that creased the region.

Captains Adrian and Karen Twinney, the couple responsible for The Salvation Army’s work Laurel and six other counties (all south of Laurel), are based out of Middlesboro, Kentucky. The Twinney’s will lead the Salvation Army’s EDS efforts in the communities throughout Laurel County. Like most Salvation Army responses, it will be a cooperative effort; partnering with other disaster response groups, and local churches and non-profits to meet the needs.

“After the urgent demands during last summer’s prolonged flood response, we knew we had to position response equipment in Middlesboro,” said, Joe Hughes, the Divisional Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator for the Kentucky & Tennessee Division. “The new canteen [mobile feeding unit] based in Middlesboro, is well-equipped to meet the needs for this response.”

The Salvation Army’s offices in Middlesboro—just being rebuilt after being damaged in the floods last summer—were also damaged during last week’s storms.

For the latest news about Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services or to make a donation in the support of those impacted by this disaster, please visit: www.disaster.SalvationArmyUSA.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).

You may also help by texting “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10.00 contribution to the relief effort. The donation will appear on your next phone bill.

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About the Salvation Army: The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.